Urgent care advice

This leaflet gives you information and useful contact information if your patient needs advice after having Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):

 Urgent care advice for Medical Staff after your patient undergoes Deep Brain Stimulation

Wound Issues (e.g. potential infection or breakdown of skin)

Immediately after surgery 

If your patient thinks they have a wound infection or are worried about their wound they should contact the Neurosurgical Wards at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital straight away.

• Ward 64 – Telephone: 0141 201 2015

Any Mechanical or Electrical Issues with the Pulse Generator

• If they are having problems with the pulse generator they may have to check the hand held programmer if they have one. (The programmer allows you to adjust the neurostimulator and to turn it on and off). If they are unsure how to do this they can phone the DBS team for advice or we can arrange for them to attend the clinic.  (Please see the contact details below).Please check that the pulse generator has not been accidently turned off.  This could lead to symptoms being uncontrolled. But can be easily switched back on with a hand-held programmer.

• If the programmer shows the Elective Replacement Indicator (ERI) this means the battery is low and will need replaced over the next few months. This is not an emergency. Please contact the DBS Administrator.

• If the programmer shows End of Life (EOL) this means the battery needs replaced. If their symptoms or condition worsens they should contact their GP for advice and we may need to replace this urgently. Otherwise, please contact the DBS administrator to arrange to have the battery replaced.

• For any other issues relating to the pulse generator or the hand held programmer please contact the DBS administrator.

You can find further information in the DBS booklet, if you do not have a copy please contact the DBS administrator.

Contact Details

Margaret Reynolds 

DBS Administrator

Telephone: 0141 232 7512 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm)

  Email:margaret.reynolds@nhs.scot

This leaflet gives you information and useful contact information if you need advice after having Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):

Urgent care advice for patients and carers after having Deep Brain Stimulation

Wound Issues (e.g. potential infection or breakdown of skin)

Immediately after your surgery 

If your patient thinks they have a wound infection or are worried about their wound they should contact the Neurosurgical Wards at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital straight away.

• Ward 64 – Telephone: 0141 201 2015

Any Mechanical or Electrical Issues with the Pulse Generator

If you are having problems with the pulse generator you may have to check the hand held programmer if you have one. (The programmer allows you to adjust the neurostimulator and to turn it on and off). If you are unsure how to do this you can phone us for advice or we can arrange for you to attend the clinic.  (Please see the contact details below).

• Please check that the pulse generator has not been accidently turned off.  This could lead to symptoms being uncontrolled. But you can easily switch it back on if you have a hand-held programmer.

• If the programmer shows the Elective Replacement Indicator (ERI) this means the battery is low and will need replaced over the next few months. This is not an emergency. Please contact the DBS Administrator.

• If the programmer shows End of Life (EOL) this means the battery needs replaced. If your symptoms or condition worsens please contact your GP for advice as we may need to replace this urgently. Otherwise, please contact the DBS administrator to arrange to have the battery replaced.

• For any other issues relating to the pulse generator or the hand held programmer please contact the DBS administrator.

You can find further information in the DBS booklet, if you do not have a copy please contact the DBS administrator.

Contact Details

Margaret Reynolds

DBS Administrator

Telephone: 01412327512

  Email: margaret.reynolds@nhs.scot

(Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm)

If you think you require out of hours emergency advice (after 5.00pm and before 9.00am and weekends) related to your DBS. Please contact ward 64 at QEUH in the first instance on  0141 201 2015. You may then be advised to contact your GP or  NHS24 on telephone number  111. Depending on the issue, nursing staff are able to liaise with the on call medical team if appropriate.